Bill targets adult-oriented businesses

January 03, 2009 11:40 pm

— By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Jasper County officials are hoping that an earlier filing will bring approval of a bill to regulate adult-oriented businesses in this session of the Missouri General Assembly.
State Rep. Ed Emery, who’ll sponsor the measure, said he may pre-file the bill on Monday or Tuesday. The session opens on Wednesday.
Emery, of Lamar, said the proposal will be similar to one he sponsored last year that passed the Missouri House but stalled in the Senate in the final days of the session.
“We’re hoping it will pass this time; if we can get the state to help us, I think we’ll be in good shape,” said John Bartosh, presiding Jasper County commissioner.
He said Emery told commissioners he would introduce the measure. He said he had also talked with Bryan Stevenson, R-Joplin, who said he would work to gather support for rules to impose limits on adult businesses.
“They just got started late on it last time,” Bartosh said. “We’re really hopeful this year, since it will be introduced at the start of the session.”
Emery said he agreed, when county officials contacted him, to sponsor the measure again in this session. He said he thinks the legislation will stand “a much better chance” of being approved with the early start, adding “frankly, I was pleased we got it through the House” last year.
Among other things, the bill would require adult cabarets to be located at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks and churches, regulate lap dances and require viewing booths in adult video businesses to be open in order to allow monitoring.
Emery said he still is gathering co-sponsors for the legislation and wants to make sure that other lawmakers who want to sign on get an opportunity. He said he also will determine “if we need to tweak any elements” before the measure is filed.
That will include contacting Scott Bergthold, a Tennessee attorney who consults with governments and organizations on adult-business regulations, he said, “to check on any approaches that may be working in other states.”
Bergthold also was consulted by a Jasper County group that organized last year after plans were announced for an adult cabaret just off Interstate 44 between Joplin and Sarcoxie.
The owner of the building revised plans and opened an adult video operation — Vegas Video — after the county commission passed tougher requirements aimed at adult cabarets.

State vs. county
Members of a local group that organized to battle adult businesses urged county action after the state legislation stalled last year, but John Bartosh, presiding commissioner, said he would prefer a state law, rather than spending county money defending a local ordinance.